I drove across town following Chicken Boy, anticipation fluttering in my chest like the big yellow feathers flapping through the open window of his truck.

We headed west on the freeway, and people in oncoming cars laughed at the chicken driving ahead of me. I was glad the guy I rented from the costume shop brought pleasure to so many—until a half dozen feathers flew off his wing and stuck to my windshield. A small boy in a passing car pointed and laughed like crazy, but I could imagine a wing full of yellow coating my vision. I turned on my windshield wipers, and feathers floated off to the right, making me notice the tops of nearby buildings and billboards. The colors of one made me catch my breath.

I spied only part of the sign, but even without my bifocals, knew the cayenne-colored letters on a muted green background would spell Cajun Delights. And that would mean Gil Thurman, my ex-lover, was in town to open another of his restaurants. I hadn't been to Chicago in a while, but family members would have told me if Gil had a restaurant here before now.

To stop thinking about him, I turned the radio volume up until golden oldies vibrated in my head, and I had to lower the window to let some sound out. A warm breeze whipped in like a hot flash, engulfing me in exhaust fumes from five-fifteen traffic.

The teen in costume chugged ahead toward the suburbs, and I backed my foot from the gas pedal to keep from ramming him. Twisting my shoulders to my music, I followed until finally we rolled into a neighborhood holding modest brick and stucco houses with clean lawns. I parked at the curb and hurried up the steps of the red-brick home I hadn't visited in six months.

Chicken Boy waddled up, and I stepped back while he rang the buzzer near the front door. I remained hidden by his bulk, waiting to see my granddaughter Kat and her reaction. She was seventeen, old enough to try to maintain her cool, but still enough of a kid to be thrilled by the arrival of an eight-foot chicken.

REVIEWS

“Shaw's promising first mystery... humorous dialogue, a suspenseful climax and good character development should please cozy fans.” - Publishers Weekly

“Family, murder, and a reluctant sleuth make Relative Danger a compelling debut.” -Rexanne Becnel, best-selling author of Blink of an Eye

“A businesswoman arrives in Chicago to attend her granddaughter's graduation, little knowing that she'll need to solve a murder before she can leave town alive.” - Kirkus Reviews

“intriguing story… refreshing twist – a granny with an attitude” – Romantic Times

“I liked Cealie a lot. She is feisty, determined, and lovable. Shaw does a good job of showing that grandmas can be sexy too. Sexy grandmas, hmmmm.” – Armchair Interviews

“It sounds as if Cealie has enough relatives that she can spend several books visiting them and solving THEIR problems – readers will look forward to meeting the entire clan.” -- Cozy Library

“Relative Danger has it all—humor, heart and suspense!”
Metsy Hingle, national award- winning, best-selling author of Black Silk

“Relative Danger gives the reader absolute delight.”
Haily North, USA Bestselling author of Love: Undercover

“Way fun. I want to be Cealie.”
Alice Duncan, Holt Medallion-winning author of Lost Among the Angels and Cactus Flower

Real full reviews at Amazon.com, bn.com and other online sites that feature books.

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